CARLISLE — A Southampton Township man accused of stabbing a woman in the chest with a hunting knife faces up to 20 years in prison.

Thomas E. Payne, 46, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Cumberland County Court to one count of aggravated assault. He originally was charged with criminal attempt at criminal homicide, which was dismissed.

State police at Carlisle were called for a report of a stabbing around 10:30 p.m. Aug. 28 in the 400 block of Walnut Bottom Road, according to court documents. They found the victim in the front yard, bleeding profusely from a gapping laceration to the chest.

While being loaded into an ambulance, she told police that Payne entered her bedroom, and they got into an argument in which Payne threatened to kill her, and then he stabbed her in the chest. After she pulled out the knife, Payne tried to grab it from her, but she ran outside for fear of being stabbed again, according to police.

After stabbing the victim, Payne went to a neighbor’s house, and said, “I did it, I did it, I stabbed her, she made me mad, and I stabbed her,” according to police.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Birbeck told the court Tuesday the victim was rushed to Hershey Medical Center, and nearly died, but she has made a full recovery. When Birbeck spoke to her several days ago, she told him she believes Payne has serious mental health, and well as drug and alcohol, issues, which fueled the assault, he told the court.

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